Summer style: Be aware of what you wear to the office ALEESHA HARRIS More from Aleesha Harris (HTTP://VANCOUVERSUN.COM/AUTHOR/ALEESHA2) Published on: June 20, 2016 Last Updated: June 20, 2016 2:28 PM PDT The dressing down of workwear isn t a new topic. The overall relaxation of the mainstream corporate wardrobe is one that has been well documented. Buttoned-up uniform of suits, skirt sets and ties have given way to business casual, casual and smart casual environments. But while everyone knows you no longer have to wear a suit in order to mean business, there is still an (often unspoken) set of guidelines surrounding office-appropriate clothing. 1 of 8 2016-06-20, 7:46 PM
And the relatively recent relaxed rules of office wear have created a grey area in the 9-to-5 style space. Without the structured suiting uniform, employees are increasingly faced with asking themselves, is this appropriate for work? A new grey area There is still a professionalism that you need to put forward, Cissy Pau, principal consultant at the Vancouver-based human resources firm Clear HR Consulting, says. Regardless of the workplace, you still want to be perceived as professional and you still want to be taken seriously. Your work speaks for itself, but, if you re dressed in a way that may make someone question your judgement, you might not be taken as seriously. The topic of dress codes in the workplace in offices, the hospitality industry and beyond has captured headlines several times this year. Perhaps the most notable case coming last month when meteorologist and on-air personality Liberté Chan of the Los Angeles-based news station KTLA was handed a cardigan mid-broadcast because of apparent viewer complaints about her choice of dress. According to Pau, successfully navigating this new casual setting is as much up to the employers as it is the employees. It is a sensitive topic, she says. Some of our clients don t know whether or not it s okay to tell someone that, hey, that skirt is too short. Because they could be viewed discriminatory (but) I think you need to be preemptive. Here is what is acceptable, here is what is not acceptable, and here are some pictures if you re in doubt. Pau says when the idea of business-casual wardrobes first arose, some companies went so far has having in-office fashion shows to help workers understand the parameters of the relaxed rules. But since then, the guidelines have become a bit blurry and the new 2 of 8 2016-06-20, 7:46 PM
generations entering the workforce may have something to do with it. If you look at the current generation of people entering the workforce, the concept of being super professional and wearing suits to work they might not have seen that, Pau says. Because their parents were probably of the generation where they were starting this whole business-casual trend. So, for them, showing up to work in a suit is so foreign. But foreign or not, the importance of donning appropriate and professional pieces at work is still prudent. Pau says the issue of dress codes has been an increasing consideration of her clients. Some have even gone so far as creating lookbooks for their employees. You need to dress appropriately for your job, she says. And it sounds kind of inane, but I think it is really important to lay it out, just so that you re absolutely clear. And if you re in doubt about that top, dress or shirt, Pau suggests just skipping it altogether. If you even have to ask yourself if you re crossing the line don t do it, she says. 3 of 8 2016-06-20, 7:46 PM
Summer is the perfect time to play with colour at the office. Monochrome suiting separates are a great place to start. REITMANS Stylish solutions There is perhaps no other season in which the dress code question is more relevant than during the hot days of summer. But while we can all agree that a slinky summer dress or tank top, halter top and flip-flops are not acceptable for the office, adhering to style guidelines doesn t mean looking unstylish. The dress is a more feminine and modern replacement to a suit, Laure Hemon, category manager at Laura Dresses and Outerwear, recommends. A wrinkle-resistant jersey is a great option for those who spend most of their times sitting at a desk. Keep an eye on the length of said summer dresses, though, as just above the knee is still the norm for work-appropriate pieces such as shorts, skirts and dresses. And whatever you do, skip the leggings. 4 of 8 2016-06-20, 7:46 PM
Playing with prints is a breeze thanks to a black-and-white palette. Leggings are not pants, Hemon stresses. Leggings should be worn under long tops or tunics that cover the butt. Instead, step out in a printed ankle pant paired with a sleeveless top and a lightweight blazer or cropped jacket. Eugenia Dourakis, the public relations supervisor at the Canadian brand Reitmans, recommends playing with proportions as a way to add interest to your look. A flowy top is universally flattering when paired with a slimming, printed crop to lengthen and accentuate the leg, she says. Still stuck on the idea of a suit? Consider a cut that style insiders are calling The Summer Suit, which is essentially a modern-cut suit 5 of 8 2016-06-20, 7:46 PM
with cropped sleeves and an ankle-baring length in a fun hue. A summer suit in vibrant pink keeps you looking fresh for summer, Dourakis recommends. The tone-on-tone creates a streamlined silhouette, while the one-button blazer nips you in right where you re tiniest the waist. And keeping a neutral-hued cardigan or bolero handy on the back of your chair is always a good idea for those days of unpredictable AC and heat. Above all, make sure the pieces you pick reflect your personality, while also representing your level of professionalism. You should feel confident and comfortable in your clothing rather than conscious. Office attire can be both fashionable and professional, Dourakis says. The key to looking and feeling confident is knowing how to balance your separates. aharris@postmedia.com (mailto:aharris@postmedia.com) Twitter.com/aleesha_h (http://twitter.com/aleesha_h) RELATED Video: Five fashion must-haves for the summer (http://vancouversun.com /life/fashion-beauty/video-five-fashion-must-haves-for-the-summer) Clothing retailer Plum celebrates 35 years of style Less is more: Minimalist style reigns supreme from the runway to the streets (http://vancouversun.com/life/fashion-beauty/less-is-betterminimalist-style-reigns-supreme-from-the-runway-to-the-streets) (http://vancouversun.com/life/fashion-beauty/clothing-retailerplum-celebrates-35-years-of-style) 6 of 8 2016-06-20, 7:46 PM